System and method for cleaning teats of a milk-producing animal and monitoring teat cleaning procedures

ABSTRACT

A system for monitoring a teat cleaning and disinfectant before a milking operation is started that comprises one or more controllers that are configured to monitor various operating parameters of the system. In an embodiment, the current supplied to a motor that drives scrubbing elements in an applicator in order to identify or determine when a teat of a cow is inserted and then removed from the applicator during a wash mode and dry mode. The controller is programmed to count each teat that is properly prepped for milking in order to determine the number of cows that have been properly prepped for milking. If certain thresholds, such as predetermined number of teats on a cow, have not been met a cow is not counted as having been properly prepped.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No.61/654,578 filed Nov. 29, 2011, and incorporated herein by reference inits entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Embodiments of the present invention relate to systems and methods thatare used for cleaning teats of milk producing animals.

In typical milking operations around the world the single largest defectof milk as well as the key detractor of profit continues to be mastitisor inflammation of the mammary gland. Mastitis leads to undesirablemilk, illness of the animal, compromised immunity as well asreproductive issues and overall animal discomfort. The effects andtreatment of mastitis are an age-old knowledge. However, the preventionof mastitis is a rather recent. Since the father of modern microbiologyLouis Pasteur developed the germ theory of disease, the general publichas assimilated the knowledge that contamination of soil and microbeslead to infection. A logical inference can be made that soiling of anudder of a milking animal by bedding or feces is the most probable causeof mastitis. Therefore, the hygiene of this area via cleaning andtreatment with compatible disinfectants is the best prevention.

Udder hygiene has become the cornerstone of mastitis prevention. Inrecent times there has been a paradigm shift from dairy farmers milkingtheir own cows to employees performing the milking duties. From thischange the issue of worker compliance and procedural drift has arisen.To date, worker compliance products efforts have been centered on videomonitoring or cumbersome color or fluorescent marker checks. Video doesnot provide cow-by-cow analysis due to high costs of implementation andhigh breakdown rates while colorimetric analysis has the potential forcontamination of milk and allergic reaction of skin.

Control systems are available to extract data relative to certainmilking operating parameters such as milking time or how long a milkeris on a cow teat, how long a cow may stay in a holding area beforeloading the cow, the time related it takes to load cows into a parlor,etc. Based on this data, a dairy farm may identify certaininefficiencies associated with a milking operation in order to increasethe number of cows that may be milked during a milking operation.However, to date, the inventors are not aware of a system or method thatenables a dairy farm to electronically extract data relative to teatcleaning procedures to analyze such data so dairy farm operators mayimprove the efficiency of milking operations or monitor compliance withteat cleaning procedures.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of the system for cleaning teats.

FIG. 2 is a schematic illustration of the dilution station with logicboard, applicator and motor for driving an applicator.

FIG. 3 is sectional view of a static mixer incorporated in the dilutionstation.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a hand-held applicator.

FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of the applicator of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view of a brush and gear housing showing thebrush/bearing interface and the brush/seal/gear interface.

FIG. 7 is an end view of a teat end brush having filament bristles ofmultiple lengths.

FIG. 8A is a schematic illustration of brushes in applicator includingteat end brush for cleaning a shorter length teat.

FIG. 8B is a schematic illustration of brushes in applicator includingteat end brush for cleaning a longer length teat.

FIG. 9 is a flow chart including steps in a method or process forcleaning the teats of a milk-producing animal.

FIG. 10 is a graph showing somatic cell counts using a disinfectantsolution comprising a 150 ppm chlorine dioxide solution compared toprior art solutions.

FIG. 11 is a bar graph comparing brushes with nylon bristles rotated atabout 500 rpm compared to a dip cleaning operation and a cleaningoperation with brushes having polypropylene bristles rotated at about1,000 rpm.

FIG. 12 is a schematic illustration of a programmable system formonitoring teat cleaning procedures.

FIG. 13 is a graph showing the detection and count of teats during awash mode and dry mode of a teat cleaning procedure.

FIGS. 14A and 14B include a logic flowchart or steps in a method forcleaning teats.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

A more particular description of the invention briefly described abovewill be rendered by reference to specific embodiments thereof that areillustrated in the appended drawings. Understanding that these drawingsdepict only typical embodiments of the invention and are not thereforeto be considered to be limiting of its scope, the invention will bedescribed and explained.

With respect to FIG. 1, there is shown schematically a system 10 forcleaning teats of a milk-producing animal. As shown, the system 10 isconfigured to deliver an aqueous disinfectant solution to one or moresolution applicators 26 positioned in a milking parlor 24 and to theteats of a milk producing animal. The system 10 generally includes achemical mixing/diluting station 12 at which a concentrated disinfectantis generated by mixing a starter chemical solution with an activator. Asdisinfectant source is provided including a container 16 of sodiumchlorite and a container 18 of the acid activator for generating theconcentrated disinfectant, which is diluted as station 12 for deliveryto the milking parlor 24. Accordingly, FIG. 1 references a deliverysection 14 that includes the solution applicator 26 and may also includecomponents of the mixing/diluting station 12.

While an embodiment illustrates and describes applicators that include ahousing attached to a handle, and rotating brushes within the housing toclean teats in the presence of a disinfectant solution, the invention isnot limited to the use of rotating brushes. The invention may coverapplicators 26 that include other applicator mechanisms that operateremotely relative to a source of disinfectant delivered to theapplicator mechanism, which contacts teats and move relative to theteats to scrub and clean the teats in the presence of the disinfectantsolution.

The Disinfectant Solution

The disinfectant solution that is applied to the teats is preferably anaqueous chlorine dioxide solution with the concentration of the chlorinedioxide being in the range of about 50 ppm to about 200 ppm. In apreferred embodiment, the concentration of chlorine dioxide is about 125ppm to about 175 ppm, and preferably about 150 ppm. In addition, thesolution does not contain additives such as conditioners, humectants,moisturizers, etc. that may thicken the solution, or increase theviscosity or decrease the vapor pressure of the solution. Accordingly,the solution has a viscosity and/or vapor pressure that aresubstantially equal to that of water. The estimated vapor pressure of200 ppm acidified chlorine dioxide solution with a pH 3.00 at 25° C. isabout 23.8 mmHg±1 mmHg. The estimated viscosity of the same solution at20° C. is about 1.002 mPa±0.001 mPa. After cleaning a teat with thissolution, the teat may be partially dried so that some residualdisinfectant remains on the teat for sublimation or evaporation. Thisallows the disinfectant to remain in contact with the teat for longerperiods of time as compared to prior art solutions. As explained in moredetail below, the applicators 26 having rotating brushes mounted withina brush housing that scrub teats while the aqueous disinfectant solutionis delivered within a volume of the brush housing and applied to theteats.

The graph shown in FIG. 10 illustrates somatic cell count test resultsof the experimental use of the above-described disinfectant with aconcentration of approximately 150 ppm of chlorine dioxide used with thebelow-described teat scrubbing unit having rotating brushes with nylonbristles, and the brushes were rotated at about 500 rpm. Somatic cellcount is an indicator of the quality of milk produced. The number ofsomatic cells increases in response to pathogenic bacteria that maycause mastitis. Somatic cell count is quantified per milliliter.

The somatic cell count results for the disinfectant solution having aconcentration of 150 ppm of chlorine dioxide are provided in comparisonto a disinfectant solution having a concentration of about 75 ppm ofchlorine dioxide. The less concentrated solution also contained one ormore additives such as a moisturizer. In addition, the 75 ppm solutionwas used with a prior art scrubbing unit that had rotating brushes withpolypropylene filament bristles being rotated at about 1,000 rpm.

Data is also provided relative to somatic cell count using an iodinedipping solution for cleaning teats and wiping the teats dry with atowel. The somatic cell counts were taken at the same dairy at thebeginning of every other month, which was and is the normal procedurefor the dairy at which the experimental use of the inventive solutionwas used. As shown in the graph, the less concentrated solution of 75ppm of chlorine dioxide produced somatic cell counts of about 200,000/mlto about 275,000/ml over about a two year period. When theexperimentation of the inventive solution having 150 ppm of chlorinedioxide began, somatic cell count dropped below 150,000/ml therebyindicating the inventive disinfectant solution has a direct effect onpathogens that may cause mastitis.

System for Applying Solution

The aqueous chlorine dioxide disinfectant solution is generated bycombining chlorite (ClO₂ ⁻), in the form of a metal salt such as sodiumchlorite, with an acidic activator. Accordingly in reference to FIG. 1,a disinfectant source 15 is provided and includes in a container 16 ofsodium chlorite and a container 18 of the acid activator. In anembodiment of the invention, the acid activator in tank 18 is citricacid and preferably is a 50% citric acid solution that is combined witha 2% to 5% aqueous sodium chlorite solution in container 16, andpreferably a 3% to 4% sodium chlorite solution, which contains about32,000 ppm of sodium chlorite.

The tanks 16 and 18 are in fluid communication, via lines 30 and 32respectively, with a chemical activation system 20. In addition, a waterline 36 feeds water from a water source (not shown) to mix the sodiumchlorite and acid activator (citric acid) with water. The activationsystem 20 referred herein operates generally on a venturi principal withthe water flow from water line 36 generating suction to draw the sodiumchlorite and the acid activator into the activation system 20 in mixingrelationship with water. The sodium chlorite is mixed with the acidactivator and water to generate an aqueous chlorine dioxide solutionpreferably having a concentration of about 6,400 ppm chlorine dioxide,which is further diluted at the diluting station 22, explained below inmore detail.

An example of such an activation system is the Automated ActivationNon-Electric (AANE) system that can be purchased from Bio-CideInternational, Inc. located in Norman, Okla. The activation system 20may operate using a float mechanism to control the volume of solutionmixed. More specifically, when the volume of solution mixed in theactivation system 20 drops to a predetermined level or volume, a valvecontrol to the water line 36 is opened to initiate water flow so thatsodium chlorite and acid activator is drawn into the activation system20. Once the mixed solution reaches a predetermined volume, the floatmechanism closes the appropriate water flow control valve.

The activation system 20 and dilution station 22 are in fluidcommunication via line 28 for delivery of the aqueous chlorine dioxideto the dilution station 22. As shown schematically in FIG. 2, thedilution station 22 includes a pump 42 that pumps the aqueous chlorinedioxide solution from the activation system 20 to the dilution station22. In addition, water is directed to the dilution station 22 via waterline 34 and mixed with the chlorine dioxide from the activation system20. More specifically, the aqueous solution of chlorine dioxide andwater are passed through a static mixer 28 to dilute the aqueoussolution of chlorine dioxide to a predetermined concentration andproduce a consistent flow of cleaning solution to the applicatorapplicators 26 in the milking parlor 24. The disinfectant solution isdelivered to the applicator 26 via line 40.

As shown in FIG. 3, the static mixer 28 includes a mixer element 48 thathas a generally helical configuration and is positioned within a housing50. While reference is made to the helical configuration other designsknown to those skilled in the art may be used. The mixing element 48 maybe composed of a chemically inert material, such as stainless steel orpolypropylene, relative to the chemicals used to make the disinfectant.Mixing elements and/or static mixers can be purchased from Sulzer Ltd.,which is headquartered in Switzerland. The housing 50 includes a waterinlet port 52 and solution inlet port 54 disposed at a first end 50A ofthe housing. An outlet port 56 is disposed at the opposite or second end50B of the housing 50 for the diluted aqueous chlorine dioxide, ordisinfectant to exit the static mixer 28.

The helical configuration of the mixer element 48 allows for adequatemixing of the concentrated chlorine dioxide with water to provide aconsistent flow of disinfectant to an applicator 26 in the parlor 24.Prior art systems not using a static mixer often suffer fromdisinfectant solution being provided to an applicator in pulses suchthat disinfectant was or is not consistently applied to teats, resultingin no disinfectant applied to some teats during a cleaning/disinfectingoperation. The incorporation of the static mixer 28 solves theseproblems.

An example of a pump that may be used to introduce the concentrateddisinfectant into the static mixer 28 is a six cubic centimeterdiaphragm pump that may pump about 0.6 ml per pulse. In addition, watervia line 34 may be introduced at about 40 psi, which is about 1,450ml/minute. The activation of the pump 42 and the flow of water via line34 is generally controlled by a switch 132 on the applicator 26, andschematically shown in FIG. 2. More specifically, the applicator 26includes a switch 60 that is electrically connected to the pump 42. Inaddition, and as shown in FIG. 2, a solenoid valve 32 may be positionedbetween the water line 34 and static mixer 28 that is opened when theswitch 132 is actuated. When an operator of the system 10 actuates theswitch 132 on the applicator 26, the pump 42 delivers the concentratedchlorine dioxide to the static mixer 28 at the dilution station 22. Inaddition, the solenoid valve 32 is opened so that water is alsodelivered to the static mixer 28 to mix the water with the concentratedchlorine dioxide.

A fluid flow regulator 46 is preferably disposed between the solenoidvalve 32 and the static mixer 28 to control a water flow rate into thestatic mixer 28 so that the chlorine dioxide solution is diluted to apredetermined concentration described above for delivery to theapplicator applicators 26. For example, water may be introduced via line34 at 40 psi, which is approximately 1.45 liters/minute.

Again in reference to FIG. 2, the dilution station 22 may include one ormore check valves to control flow of the disinfectant solution. Asshown, a first check valve 58 may be disposed between the solenoid valve32 and the static mixer 28 to prevent backflow of the disinfectant intothe water line 34. In addition, a second check valve 60 may be disposedbetween the outlet port 54 of the static mixer 28 and the applicator 26,and preferably adjacent to the static mixer 28, to prevent the flow ofthe disinfectant solution to the applicator 26 when the system 10 is notin use. Accordingly, the check valve 60 may be set to open only when thefluid pressure in the line 40A exceeds a predetermined pressure which isindicative of the disinfectant solution being delivered to theapplicator 26 while in use.

Hand-Held Applicator

A disinfectant solution applicator 26 that may be used in embodiments ofthe invention is schematically shown in FIGS. 2, 4 and 5. One or moreapplicators 26 are positioned within the milking parlor 24 to clean anddisinfect teats of a plurality of milk-producing animals such as cowsthat have been herded into the parlor 24 for milking. The applicator 26includes a plurality of rotating brushes 86 that are operativelyconnected with a gear system including a plurality of gears 88 that areactuated by a drive shaft 90, which in turn is driven by a motor 138.

In an embodiment, at least one applicator 26 is provided in fluid andelectrical communication with the above-described dilution station 22from which the aqueous disinfectant is delivered. The applicator 26 isremotely positioned and operable relative to the dilution station 22,power source (not shown) and logic control board 130, so that anoperator may hold and use the applicator 26 at various locationsthroughout the parlor 24. Accordingly, the system 10 and applicator 26can be used with milking parlors of varying designs such as parallel,herringbone and rotating parlors.

Again with respect to FIG. 2, the applicator 26 is connected in fluidcommunication to the dilution station 22 by a flexible conduit/line 40and in electrical communication by electrical lines 96 contained withina flexible and insulated jacket 98. The conduit/line 40 is preferablycomposed of neoprene or santoprene, having an inside diameter of about0.17 inches. As shown in FIG. 2, the electrical lines 96 are connectedto a logic board 130 that is programmed to control the activation ofpump 42 and solenoid valve 32 for diluting the concentrated disinfectantat the diluting station 22 and delivery of the diluted disinfectant tothe applicator 26. In addition, the logic board 130 is programmed tocommand the rotation of the brushes 86 coincident with delivery of thediluted disinfectant to the applicator.

In a preferred embodiment, the logic board 130 is programmed such thatwhen the switch 132 is depressed or actuated the disinfectant isdelivered from the dilution station 22 to a volume within applicator 26occupied by the brushes 86. As long as the switch 132 is actuated, thedisinfectant is delivered to the applicator 26 and the brushes 86, whichare rotating. The logic board 130 is preferably programmed so that whenthe switch 132 is released, the solenoid valve 32 is closed and pump 42is deactivated. However, the logic board 130 may be programmed with adelay so that brushes 86 continue to rotate for a predetermined timeduration after the delivery of the disinfectant has been discontinued.In an embodiment, the time delay may be about 4 to about 7 seconds sothat the rotating brushes 86 may be used to partially dry teats afterthe application of the disinfectant.

With respect to FIGS. 4 and 5, the components of the applicator 26 areillustrated in more detail. As shown, the applicator 26 includes ahandle 80, a gear housing 82 and a brush housing 84. A shell casing 100is configured at one end to form the handle 80 that houses the insulatedjacket 98 with the flexible conduit/line 40 and electric lines 96, and aflexible drive shaft 90. As shown schematically in FIG. 2, the jacket 98encasing the conduit 40 and electrical lines 96 are connected to anadapter 134 that is mounted to a housing 136 for a motor 138 thatactuates the flexible drive shaft 90. The motor 138 may be a 24 volt DCbrushless asynchronous motor that is in electrical communication withthe logic board 130 via one of the electrical lines 96. The motor 138 ispreferably driven at about 900 rpm so the brushes 86 rotated atpreferably 500 rpm.

The flexible conduit 40, remaining electrical lines 96 and the driveshaft 90 extend through a flexible jacket 98 to the applicator 26. Morespecifically, these components are also housed in the handle 80 of theapplicator 26, with the drive shaft terminating at the below-referencedgear housing 82 and the electrical lines 96 connected switch 132 andground.

The shell casing 100 also forms in part the gear housing 82, whichhouses the gears 88 beginning at a point where the drive shaft 90terminates. The drive shaft 90 extends through a first mounting plate104 and is operatively connected to a central gear 88D, and is securedto the first mounting plate 104 with an adaptor 108. A second mountingplate 106 is secured in space relation to the first plate 104, whereinthe shell casing 100, first mounting plate 104 and second mounting plate106 define the gear housing 82.

In a preferred embodiment, the applicator 26 includes three brushes 86A,86B and 86C wherein each such brush is operatively connected to acorresponding gear 88A, 88B and 88C. In addition, a central gear 88D isoperatively connected to the drive shaft 90 as described above and eachof the gears 88A, 88B and 88C to rotate the brushes 86A, 86B and 86C. Acover 110 is mounted to the second plate 106 forming the brush housing84. The cover 110 includes a first opening 112 through which a teat ofan animal is inserted for cleaning, and a second opening 114 that allowsdebris and fluid to escape from the brush housing 84 during a cleaningoperation.

With respect to FIG. 6 the interface of the gears 88 with the brushes 86is represented by reference to a single brush 86 and gear 88, the secondplate 106 includes hubs 116 through which a base 118 of a brush 86 isinserted for engagement with a corresponding gear 88. A bushing 120 isdisposed within each hub 116 and includes a lip 122. In addition, thebase 118 of each brush 86 includes a step 124 that fits in matingrelationship with lip 122 on bushing 120. In this manner, the gearhousing 82 and brush housing 84 are sealed from one another so thatdebris cleaned from teat is purged from the brush housing 84 and doesnot enter the gear housing 82 thereby fouling the components, namely thegears 88, in the gear housing 82 and bushing 120.

The gears 88A-88D and the bushings 120 are preferably composed of Hydex®4101L, which is a polybutylene terephthalate plastic that has arelatively low coefficient of friction, and does not require lubricatingmaterials. Prior art teat scrubbers typically use components thatrequired lubricating materials. If debris enters the gear housing, thelubricating material captured the debris forming an abrasive amalgamthat fouls the gear components.

With respect to FIG. 8A the arrangement of the brushes 86A, 86B and 86Care shown in more detail. As illustrated, a preferred embodimentincludes two base brushes 86A and 86B that positioned side-by-side andadjacent to the first opening 112 of the cover 110. The brush 86C mayalso be referred to as a tip brush that is positioned relative to theother base brushes 86A and 86B, and relative to a teat of an animal toclean the tip of the teat. In an embodiment, the bristles on the brushes86 are preferably nylon filaments having a diameter of 0.12 mm. Thebrushes 86 are preferably rotated at rotational speeds of about 400 rpmto about 700 rpm, and ideally rotated at a speed of about 500 rpm. Priorart applicators that include brushes utilize polypropylene filamentshaving diameter of 0.10 mm which provide a more coarse touch to a teatthan bristles composed of nylon filaments. In addition, the prior artsystems having polypropylene filament bristles are rotated at speeds ofabout 900 to about 1,000 rpm, which may adversely affect animal comfortduring cleaning, which can affect the amount of milk produced duringmilking.

With respect to FIG. 11 a bar graph illustrates the percentage of milkproduced during the first two minutes of a milking using an iodinedipping solution and towel wiping for drying, a teat scrubbing unit withbrushes rotating at 1,000 rpm and a teat scrubbing unit using brushesrotated at 500 rpm. The brushes rotated at 1,000 rpm were the prior artbrushes including the polypropylene filament bristles. The brushesrotated at 500 rpm included the above-described nylon filament bristles.A disinfectant solution with a concentration of about 150 ppm aqueouschlorine dioxide (with moisturizing additives) and a 75 ppm aqueouschlorine solution (without additives) was used with the scrubbing unithaving brushes rotated at 1,000 rpm. A 75 ppm aqueous chlorine dioxidesolution (without additives) was used with the scrubbing unit havingbrushes rotated at 1,000 rpm. The data was taken from six differentdairies each using the three different teat-cleaning techniques.

As shown, the brushes having the nylon filament bristles rotated atabout 500 rpm produced more milk during the first two minutes of amilking operation. More specifically, the system produced on averageabout 63.33% of the total milk produced in a milking operation duringthe first two minutes of THE milking operation. An average of 51.33% ofthe total milk produced during a milking operation was produced duringthe first two minutes of a milking operation using the polypropylenefilament brushes rotated about 1,000 rpm. An average of 44.67% of thetotal milk produced during a milking operation was produced during thefirst two minutes of a milking operation using the iodine dip and wipingthe teats dry.

Average milking operations are about 4½ to 6 minutes with all teatsbeing milked simultaneously; and, some dairies may have milkingoperation of less than 4 minutes. By producing more milk during thefirst two minutes of a milking operation, the total time of the milkingoperation can be reduced. In addition, cows that produce more milkduring that first two minutes of a milking operation are more likely to“milk-out” completely, which is known to reduce the chances of mastitis.Moreover, more milk produced in the first two minutes of a milkingoperation is an indicator that the cleaning process is providing goodquality stimulation to the teats.

In an embodiment, all of the brushes 86A, 86B and 86C have the samediameter. For example, the brushes 86A, 86B and 86C may have a diametermeasured from an end of a bristle to the end of a diametrically opposedbristle of about 1.625 inches for cleaning the teats of a cow; however,the brush diameter may vary according to the size of diameter and/lengthof the teat 126 inserted for cleaning and positioning of the brushesrelative to one another.

In reference to FIGS. 7, 8A and 8B, there is schematically illustratedanother embodiment of the invention with the teat end brush 86Cincluding bristles having multiple lengths, and the positioning of theteat end brush 86C relative to the barrel brushes 86A and 86B and a teat124. Providing bristles of multiple lengths, the system 10 and theapplicator may account for teats of varying lengths. By way of example,American bred cows have a teat length that is about 1.8 inches to about1.9 inches, while teats of foreign bred cows may be longer.

In reference to FIG. 7, the teat end brush 86C includes bristles 140 forcleaning a teat, wherein the bristles 140 include a first of set ofbristles 140A and a second set of bristles 140B. The first set ofbristles 140A has a length that is shorter than the length of the secondset of bristles 140B. As shown in FIG. 8A, a teat 124 is inserted intothe brush housing 84 of the applicator 26 and between the barrel brushed86A and 86B. The rotating barrel brushes 86A and 86B contact the teatbase 126 and the teat end brush 86C engage the teat tip 128. Morespecifically, FIG. 8A shows the second set of (longer) bristles 140Bengaging the tip 128 of a teat 124 having a shorter length; and in FIG.8B, a teat tip 128 of a teat 124 having a longer length is engaged bythe first set of bristles 140A having a shorter length relative to thesecond set of bristles 140B.

In order to accommodate different teat lengths, the tip brush 86 C ispositioned in the brush housing 84 so that distance from an outsidesurface 110A of the cover 110 adjacent the opening 112 to the free endsof the bristles 140A and 140B varies. By way of example, the distance D1shown in FIG. 8A from surface 110A to the free end of bristles 140B maybe about 1.8 inches for shorter length teats; and, the distance D2 shownin FIG. 8B, from surface 110A to the free end of the bristles 140B maybe about 2.2 inches for longer teat lengths. While bristles 140A and140B are shown brushing against the teat 124, the distances D1 and D2shown in FIGS. 8A and 8B respectively, are determined from the surface110A to a free end of the bristles 140 when the bristles 140 are in astatic position and not operational.

Method of Applying Disinfectant Solution

Steps in application of a disinfectant solution are set forth inflowchart shown in FIG. 9. In step 200, two operations take placeincluding step 200A in which delivery of the aqueous disinfectantsolution to the applicator takes place for a predetermined timeduration. In step 200B the applicator is simultaneously activated toscrub the teats for the predetermined time duration while thedisinfectant solution is delivered. As described above, the actuation ofthe switch 132 initiates command or electrical signals that result inthe solenoid valve 32 opening and activation of pump 42, so water (vialine 34) and concentrated disinfectant solution (via line 28 fromactivation system 20) respectively flows through mixer 28 and to theapplicator 26.

Actuation of the switch 132 also transmits signals causing the brushes86 to rotate so a teat 124 is scrubbed as the disinfectant solution isdelivered to the brush housing 84. Milk producing animals, such as cows,have four teats. The cleaning operation preferably takes place from therear or side of the cow, and begins with the teat are furthest away andmoves in a clockwise or counter-clockwise direction. The solution isdelivered to the rotating brushes 86 as long as the switch 132 isactuated. The solution may be delivered for a first time duration ofabout 5 to 8 seconds when the brushes are rotating. The applicator 26 ispreferably reciprocated in an up-down and twisting motion duringapplication of the solution to adequately clean the teat.

As previously indicated the solution is an aqueous chlorine dioxidesolution having a concentration of about 150 ppm and delivered to thebrushes 86 at a flow rate of about 40 psi, or about 1.45 L/min. Thebrushes 86 are preferably composed of nylon bristles and rotate at aspeed of about 500 rpm to about 520 rpm.

After all teats have been scrubbed and are free of visible soil, theswitch 132 is released which discontinues or stops the delivery of thedisinfectant solution to the applicator 26, which is set forth in step202A. However, the logic control 130 is programmed with a time delay sothe brushes 86 continue to rotate for a second predetermined timeduration as the brushes 86 remain in contact with the teat, as describedin step 202B. The brushes 86 may continue to rotate for a sufficienttime, i.e. 4 to 7 seconds to dry the teats. This second time duration ispreferably of a length so that the teat is not entirely dried of thesolution and some solution residue may remain on the teat to furtherdisinfect the teat. After a teat has been cleaned and dried theapplicator 26 is moved to the next teat. By beginning with teats thatare positioned farthest away and moving in a clockwise orcounterclockwise direction, cross contamination may be avoided. Thedisinfectant solution is then in contact with skin on the teat for 60 to120 seconds, because the solution does not contain any conditioningcompounds the solution sublimes prior to attachment of a milkingmachine.

System and Method for Monitoring Teat Cleaning Procedures

In a preferred embodiment the logic board (controller) 130 is programmedor configured to monitor certain parameters associated teat cleaningprocedures by monitoring the amount of time the system is under a “washmode” and/or “dry mode” and/or the number of teats inserted into theapplicator 26 in the wash mode and/or dry mode. That is, dairy farmsincorporate milking schedules during a work day. Such schedules mayinclude multiple milking operations during a single day, in which cowsare led into the milking parlor, prepped for milking and then milked.For each work day and for each milking operation, the schedule typicallyincludes a desired number of cows to be milked per milking operation orper day.

Control systems are available to extract data relative to certainmilking operation parameters such as milking time or how long a milkeris on a cow teat, how long a cow may stay in a holding area beforeloading the cow, the time related it takes to load cows into a parlor,etc. Based on this data, a dairy farm may identify certaininefficiencies associated with a milking operation in order to increasethe number of cows that may be milked during a milking operation.

However, to date, the inventors are not aware of a system or method thatenables a dairy farm to electronically extract data relative to teatcleaning procedures to analyze such data so dairy farm operators mayimprove the efficiency of milking operations. To that end, the abovedescribed system 10 may be adapted to acquire and/or generate dataduring the teat cleaning phase of a milking operation to evaluate anumber of different steps or parameters associated with a teat cleaningprocedure. For example, data relative to the amount of time that theapplicator 26 is activated to clean and dry the teats of one or morecows, the amount of time the disinfectant solution is applied to a teatand/or the amount of time the applicator 26 may be used to dry the teatsafter application of the disinfectant solution.

In addition, or alternatively, the system 10 may be adapted to monitorthe number of teats that are inserted into the housing volume of theapplicator 26 during the wash mode and dry mode. In as much as a cowtypically has at least three milk producing teats, the system 10 may beadapted to count the number of teats for each cow that are cleaned andthen dried to determine the number of cows that have been properlyprepped for milking or determine the number of cows that have beenproperly prepped according to a dairy farm's cleaning procedures.

While the invention may be described in terms of monitoring thesedescribed teat cleaning parameters, the invention is not so limited andis intended to encompass monitoring any step or parameter associatedwith teat cleaning. In addition, when referring to the logic board orcontroller 130, one skilled in the art will appreciate that the logicboard 130 or another separate controller may be configured to monitorcertain parameters and/or generate data associated with operatingparameters of a teat cleaning phase of a milking operation.

Accordingly, the system 10 may monitor a teat cleaning procedure bymonitoring and/or detecting electrical signals associated with theoperation of the applicator 26 during cleaning and drying teats. Thismay be done by monitoring the current supplied to the motor 138 when theswitch 132 is actuated so that the disinfectant solution is applied tothe cow teats as the brushes 86 are rotated. As described above, thedisinfectant solution may be delivered to applicator 26 for a first timeduration of about 5 to 8 seconds. This time duration may becharacterized as the “wash mode.” An operator, during the wash mode,cleans the teats as described above. Once the operator finishesscrubbing all the teats, the switch 132 is released; however, the logicboard 130 is configured to control the motor 138 so the brushes 86continue to rotate for a second time duration (i.e., 4 to 7 seconds)after the switch 132 is released. This second time duration may becalled the “dry mode”, during which the washed teats are inserted into ahousing volume of the applicator for drying.

In an embodiment, the logic board 130 may be programmed to control themotor 138 so that the brushes 86 are always rotated at a predeterminedfrequency, for example, 500 rpm. When the switch 132 is actuated acurrent is supplied to the motor 138 to rotate the brushes at thepredetermined frequency or rate. Once a teat is inserted into theapplicator 26, the current is adjusted or increased so the rate orfrequency of rotation of the brushes is maintained at the predeterminedlevel. That is, the motor 138 pulls additional current to account forthe “load” created by the teat. Accordingly, the amount of time themotor 138 or brushes 86 are under “load” or the amount of time a teat isinserted in the applicator 26 may be monitored by monitoring the amountof time the current has been increased to account for the insertion ofthe teat in the applicator. In addition, by monitoring the increase anddecrease of the current above a current threshold, the controller 130 isable to monitor the number of teats that are inserted into and removedduring the wash and dry modes.

As explained in more detail below, each time during a wash mode, thecurrent supplied to the motor 138 exceeds a current threshold or eachtime the current is adjusted so that the brushes 186 rotate at a desiredfrequency (rpm) is an indication that a teat has been inserted into thehousing volume of the application during the wash mode (i.e., after theswitch has been depressed). To that end, when the teat is removed fromthe applicator 26, the current supplied to the motor 138 drops below thecurrent threshold. Thus the controller 130 is configured to count eachtime during the wash mode a teat is inserted into and then removed fromthe housing volume indicating a teat has been washed.

After all teats, or a predetermined number of teats, such as three teatshave been washed, the switch 132 is released to operate the applicator26 in the dry mode. More specifically, once the switch 132 is released,the brushes 86 continue to rotate during a dry mode as previouslydescribed. When a teat is inserted into the housing volume of theapplicator 26 the controller 130 adjusts the current supplied to themotor, above the current threshold, to account for the “load” on thebrushes 86 and/or motor 138 indicating a teat has been inserted in theapplicator 26. When the teat is removed, the current will then dropbelow the current threshold. Thus, the controller 130 is configured tocount each time the current exceeds and drops below the currentthreshold during a dry mode of a cleaning operation to count the numberof teats that have been dried.

In addition, the logic board 130 or another controller may be programmedto monitor a parameter that indicates the amount of time that thedisinfectant solution is supplied to the applicator. As previouslydescribed, when the switch 132 is actuated to rotate the brushes 86, thelogic board 130 generates an electrical signal, or a signal is otherwisegenerated to open the solenoid valve 32 and activate the pump.Therefore, the amount of time the switch 132 is depressed is anindicator of the amount of time the disinfectant solution is applied toa teat, or the amount of time the applicator 26 is operating in a washmode. Accordingly, the controller 130 may monitor the amount of timefrom when the pump 42 is activated and/or the valve 32 is open, or whenthe switch 132 is depressed and the time when the switch is released,thereby closing the valve 32 and deactivating the pump 42. One skilledin the art will appreciate that other signals or operating conditionsmay be monitored as an indicator of the amount of time applicator is ina wash mode. By monitoring the amount of time the system 10 is operatedin the wash mode during a milking operation shift, one can determine theamount disinfectant solution that is consumed during respective milkingoperations, and potentially identify where or when the disinfectantsolution 45 may be over or under consumed.

The controller 130 may also be configured to determine the amount oftime the applicator 26 is run in the dry mode. That is, given that thetotal amount of time the motor 138 is activated to rotate the brushes 86is known, and the amount of time the disinfectant solution is suppliedto the applicator is known, the controller can determine the amount oftime the applicator 26 is operated in the dry mode. Alternatively, or inaddition, the controller 130 may be programmed to distinguish oridentify that the dry mode is initiated when the switch 132 is releasedand monitor the time the brushes 86 continue to rotate withoutdisinfectant solution supplied and with a teat inserted in theapplicator 26.

A schematic illustration of the system 10, including components formonitoring teat cleaning procedures, is shown in FIG. 12 and includesthe previously described components for a system for cleaning teats. Asshown the controller/PLC 130 may include a sensor 150, or the sensor 150is provided in electrical communication with the controller 130 tomonitor the current supplied to the motor 138. The sensor 150 may be acurrent transducer such as the MCR-S-DCI current transducer supplied byPhoenix Contacts, of Blomberg, Germany; however the invention is not solimited and other devices known to those skilled in the art may be usedto monitor the current supplied to the motor 138.

Data indicative of the current supplied to the motor 138 is transmittedto a counter 152 that is configured to count the number of teats thatare cleaned, or inserted into applicator 26 housing volume during boththe wash mode and dry mode. More specifically, and as described above,when a load (teat inserted in the applicator) is placed on the brushes86 and motor 138, the rotational velocity or frequency of the motorshaft and brushes 86, the motor 138 will draw additional or compensatingcurrent in order to maintain a set or desired voltage output. Thecounter 152 is preferably configured or programmed to count a teat on acow having been washed or dried when the current supplied exceeds (teatinserted in applicator 26) the current threshold then subsequently dropsbelow (teat removed from applicator 26) the current threshold.

In reference to FIG. 13, a graph is provided to illustrate a cow havingbeen properly prepped for a milking operation and counted by thecontroller 130. As shown the Current (A) to the motor 138 is plottedversus Time (seconds) during which teats 1-4 are cleaned in a wash modeand dried in a dry mode. However, the number of teats counted in eachmode is not necessarily a function of time as much as it is a functionof the number of times or increments at which the current exceeds thecurrent threshold and then drops below the current threshold,representing a teat having been inserted and then removed from theapplicator.

As shown in FIG. 13, the graph includes a Baseline Current whichrepresents the current supplied to the motor 138 when a load is notapplied (teat not inserted) to the brushes 86 and motor 138. For theabove described system 10, when the motor 138 is running without a loadthe Baseline Current may be about 1 amp; however, it could be more orless depending on the size of the motor or type of motor used or othervariables. The Current Threshold may be predetermined or set and asshown in FIG. 13, the current threshold is set at about 1.4 to 1.5 amps.

Alternatively, the controller 130 may be programmed to determine aCurrent Threshold as a percentage increase above the Baseline Current.That is, overtime as the system 10 is operated the Baseline Current maychange as a result of, for example, gear or other component wear.Accordingly, the controller 130 may be programmed to calibrate theBaseline Current, and the current threshold is determined as apercentage increase over the calibrated Baseline Current. For example,when the system 10 is turned on at an input mechanism 160 (FIG. 12),which may simply be a button or a key on a key pad or touch screen, themotor 130 is activated for a predetermined time (e.g. 3 seconds) and thecurrent detected over that time period is averaged to determine theBaseline Current, and the current threshold is then determined as apercentage increase of the Baseline Current. For example, if thecalibrated Baseline Current is determined to be 1 amp, then the currentthreshold may be 1.4 amps.

With respect to FIGS. 14A and 14B, a flowchart is shown representing aprogramming logic, or steps in a method, followed in a teat cleaningprocedure as monitored by the system 10 or controller 130. At block 300a shift for a milking operation, including teat cleaning operations, isstarted by activating the controller 130 via the input device 160. Thismay simply be a button to start the controller 130, or a key on a keypador touch screen including a display screen 158. The system 10 may beequipped with an input mechanism 160 that an operator uses to enter anadministrative code and user identification code to start the system 10at the beginning of the milking operation. The user identification codeis unique to each operator that may use the system 10 for a milkingoperation. This user identification code may be particularly useful whena dairy farm employs multiple operators to perform the milkingoperations. Thus the data generated relative to the teat cleaningprocedure may be associated with a particular operator, whichinformation may be useful for narrowing efficiencies or inefficienciesto the particular operator.

At block 302 a query is made whether the switch 132 has been depressedor pulled. If the answer is YES, any previous count of teats made in adry mode is reset at block 304, and at block 306 the controller delaysmonitoring of the current to the motor for a time period (e.g. 0.75seconds) to avoid detecting or rule out a rush in current spike, whichmay be a false indication of a teat being inserted into the applicator.

After this time delay the controller 130 starts to monitor the currentsupplied to motor 138. In as much as the trigger has been pulled thesystem 10 is operating in a wash mode, wherein disinfectant solution issupplied to the housing volume for cleaning teats. At block 308 a queryis made as to whether the current reaches or exceeds the CurrentThreshold, and, if the answer is NO, the query is made again. The queryroutine is repeated until a teat is inserted into the applicator 26 andthe answer to the query of block 308 is YES, at which time a teat iscounted, or a count is initiated, at block 310. The controller 130continues to monitor the current at block 312 to determine if or whenthe current drops below the Current Threshold and this routine query ismade until the answer is YES at which time the programmed controller 130loops back to block 308 to monitor whether the current exceeds theCurrent Threshold to determine if a second teat has been inserted intothe applicator for cleaning.

Once all of the teats have been cleaned an operator should then releasethe switch 132 for the dry mode operation. At block 302 if the answer tothe query of whether the switch 132 is pulled is NO, at block 314 aquery is made as to the total number of teats washed has reached a washset point. The controller 130 may be programmed to include a minimumwash set point, which may be for example three (3) because some cattlemay only have three milk producing teats; however, the subject inventionis not limited to minimum of three and the minimum number washes may befewer or greater than three. If the operator has washed fewer than theminimum wash setpoint or threshold, then the answer to the query atblock 314 is NO and the wash count is reset at block 316. As shown, oncethe wash count is reset, the controller 130 is programmed not to monitorthe current until the switch 132 is pulled again for the next wash mode,which will be the next cow. Therefore, if the operator does not wash theminimum number of teats or meet the minimum wash count for a particularcow, that cow will not be counted as being properly prepped.

If the answer to the query at block 314 is YES, then the controller 130monitors the current during the dry mode. At block 318, similar to thewas mode, the query is made whether the current has reached or exceedsthe Current Threshold, and that query is made until the answer is YES,at which time at block 320 a teat dry count is initiated. The controller130 continues monitoring the current to determine if and when thecurrent drops below the Current Threshold at block 322.

When the current drops below the Current Threshold, at block 324 thequery is made whether the “Dry Count”, or number of teats dried, isequal to or greater than the “Dry Count Setpoint” or minimum number ofteats dried, which is preferably the same as the “Wash Count Setpoint”or minimum number of teats washed. Once the “Dry Count Setpoint” hasbeen met at block 324, the controller 130 queries at block 326 whetherthe total number of wash counts plus dry counts is greater than zero(“0”), and if the total is greater than zero, then the counter 152counts one cow having been properly prepped.

If for example, the operator does not meet the minimum “Dry CountSetpoint” and moves onto the wash mode for a next cow and pulls theswitch 132 at block 302, then at block 304 the dry count 304 is reset.Then at block 308, the controller begins the routine to monitor thecurrent and the wash count for a next cow. Thus, although the operatormay have washed the minimum number of teats, the cow will not be countedat blocks 326 and 328, because the cow has not been properly prepped,because the operator did not meet the minimum “Dry Count Setpoint.”

The system 10 may also include a database 154 in which data,representative of the above-described parameters associated with theteat cleaning, is stored. With respect to the above-described controller130 programmed logic, when an operator has completed cleaning the cowsin preparation for milking operation that operator may initiate acommand via the input device 160 to transfer the total count to thedatabase 154. Alternatively, each time a cow has been counted as beingproperly prepped that count may be transferred to the database 154. Thedatabase 154 may be configured to store the count according to the dateof the cleaning operation, the length of time for the cleaning operationfrom start to completion, the length of time taken to clean each teatand each cow, and the name or other identifier information associatedwith the operator conducting a respective cleaning procedure. The datamay be accessible during or after a milking operation using theabove-referenced input mechanism 158, which may include a computer keypad, touch screen or the like. To that end, a computer with a displaymonitor may be linked to the controller 130 and access the database sothe data can be accessed during or after milking operations. Inaddition, the data in the database 154 may be downloaded to a machinereadable medium such as a disc, card etc.

In this manner, a dairy farm is able to monitor the teat cleaningprocedures conducted during milking operations. For example, the dairyfarm may be able to identify particular operators that are operatingmore or less efficiently than others. The data may be used to detecttrends such as that towards the end of a shift fewer cows are beingprepped properly.

As indicated above, the controller 130 may include, or be linked to atimer/clock 156 to monitor time parameters such as the length of timethe system is in a wash mode during a shift to determine the amount ofsolution that is used during a shift. Also the amount of time taken toclean each teat and/or each cow may be monitored. This time related datamay be stored in the database 154 and used to monitor the teat cleaningprocedures.

It is known in the dairy industry to use RFID tags and readers tomonitor animal health and schedule milking and fertilization to maximizeproductivity. Accordingly, the system 10 may be equipped with one ormore RFID readers. Preferably, the reader is mounted to the applicator26 and linked to the controller 130 and/or computer. Before a cow iscleaned for milking the RFID tag is read and the animal is identified;therefore, as data is generated while cleaning the cow, data relativewhether or not that cow has been properly prepped during a cleaningprocedure. Therefore the data can be parceled according to each cow.This data may be useful in determining the potential cause of mastitisin an individual cow.

While certain embodiments of the present invention have been shown anddescribed herein, such embodiments are provided by way of example only.Numerous variations, changes and substitutions will occur to those ofskill in the art without departing from the invention herein.Accordingly, it is intended that the invention be limited only by thespirit and scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A system for monitoring teat cleaning anddisinfectant procedures before a milking operation is started, thesystem comprising: a disinfectant solution source; a hand-heldapplicator having a housing volume within which one or more brushes arepositioned for engaging a teat of the milk-producing animal having beeninserted in the volume for cleaning; a pump and conduit in fluidcommunication with the hand-held applicator and the disinfectantsolution source, for delivering a disinfectant solution to the housingvolume of the hand-held applicator; a controller, in electricalcommunication with the hand-held applicator and the pump, that isconfigured to initiate the actuation of the brushes and delivery of thedisinfectant solution to the hand-held applicator as the brushes areactuated; wherein the applicator includes a switch mechanism inelectrical communication with the controller and when the switchmechanism is actuated the controller activates the pump to controldelivery of the disinfectant solution to the applicator and whenreleased the controller deactivates the pump to discontinue the deliveryof the disinfectant solution to the applicator and the controller beingconfigured to control actuation of the brushes to rotate after theswitch is released for a predetermined time duration without thedisinfectant solution being supplied to the applicator; wherein thecontroller is further configured to monitor one or more teat cleaningparameters comprising a parameter indicative an amount of time thebrushes are actuated for cleaning and drying the teats, a parameterindicative of an amount of time a teat or teats have been inserted inthe applicator while the brushes are actuated, a parameter indicative ofan amount of the time the disinfectant solution has been applied to theteats of cows in preparation for a milking operation, a parameterindicative of the number teats that are inserted into the housing volumewhen disinfectant solution is supplied to the applicator after theswitch is actuated and/or the number of teats inserted into the volumeof the applicator housing after the switch is released and during thepredetermined time duration; wherein the controller is furtherconfigured to generate data representing the number of animals whoseteats have been cleaned in preparation for a milking operation based onone or more of the monitored teat cleaning parameters; and, a databasein which the data representing the number of animals whose teats havebeen cleaned in preparation for a milking operation is stored.
 2. Thesystem of claim 1, further comprising one or more readers for readingmachine readable code affixed to each animal, the machine readable codehaving animal identification information thereon and the data related tothe monitored parameters generated by the controller is associated witheach animal identified for cleaning.
 3. A method of monitoring teatcleaning and disinfecting procedures before a milking operation isstarted, the method comprising: providing a source of a disinfectantsolution; delivering, for a first time duration, the disinfectantsolution to a housing of a hand-held applicator having a teat insertedwithin a volume of the housing and the applicator having movable brushesin the housing element; simultaneously actuating the brushes forcleaning the teats in the presence of the solution for the first timeduration; continuing to actuate the brushes for a second time durationafter the first time duration has elapsed in order to dry the teats andduring the second time duration the disinfectant solution is notdelivered to the housing volume; monitoring one or more parametersassociated with cleaning the teats wherein the parameters comprise aparameter indicative of an amount of time the brushes are actuated forcleaning and drying the teats, a parameter indicative of an amount oftime a teat or teats have been inserted in the applicator while thebrushes are actuated, a parameter indicative of an amount of the timethe disinfectant solution has been applied to the teats of cows inpreparation for a milking operation, a parameter indicative of thenumber teats that are inserted into the housing volume during the firsttime duration and/or the number of teats inserted into the volume of theapplicator housing during the second time duration; generating datarepresenting the number of animals whose teats have been cleaned inpreparation for a milking operation based on one or more of themonitored teat cleaning parameters; and, storing in a database the datarepresenting the number of animals whose teats have been cleaned inpreparation for a milking operation is stored.
 4. The method of claim 3,further comprising reading machine readable code affixed to each animal,the machine readable code having animal identification informationthereon and the data related to the monitored parameters generated bythe controller is associated with each animal identified for cleaning.5. A system for monitoring teat cleaning or disinfecting proceduresbefore a milking operation is started, the system comprising: adisinfectant solution source; a hand-held applicator having a housingvolume within which one or more brushes are positioned for engaging ateat of the milk-producing animal having been inserted in the volume forcleaning; a pump and conduit in fluid communication with the hand-heldapplicator and the disinfectant solution source, for delivering adisinfectant solution to the housing volume of the hand-held applicator;a controller, in electrical communication with the hand-held applicatorand the pump, that is configured to initiate the actuation of thebrushes and delivery of the disinfectant solution to the hand-heldapplicator as the brushes are actuated during a teat washing mode;wherein the applicator includes a switch mechanism in electricalcommunication with the controller and when the switch mechanism isactuated the controller activates the pump to control delivery of thedisinfectant solution to the applicator during the wash mode and whenreleased the controller deactivates the pump to discontinue the deliveryof the disinfectant solution to the applicator and the controller beingconfigured to control actuation of the brushes to rotate after theswitch is released for a predetermined time duration without thedisinfectant solution being supplied to the applicator during a teatdrying mode; wherein the controller is further configured to monitor oneor more teat cleaning parameters comprising a parameter indicative ofthe number teats that are inserted into the housing volume during theteat washing mode and/or the number of teats inserted into the volume ofthe applicator housing during the teat drying mode; wherein thecontroller is further configured to generate data representing thenumber of animals whose teats have been cleaned in preparation for amilking operation based on one or more of the monitored teat cleaningparameters; and, a database in which the data representing the number ofanimals whose teats have been cleaned in preparation for a milkingoperation is stored.
 6. A method for monitoring teat cleaning ordisinfecting procedures before a milking operation is started, themethod comprising: providing a source of a disinfectant solution;delivering, for a first time duration, the disinfectant solution to ahousing of a hand-held applicator having a teat inserted within a volumeof the housing during a teat washing mode and the applicator havingmovable brushes in the housing volume; simultaneously actuating thebrushes for cleaning the teats in the presence of the solution deliveredto the housing volume during the teat washing mode; continuing toactuate the brushes for a second time duration during a teat drying modeafter the teat washing mode has elapsed in order to dry the teatswherein the disinfectant solution is not delivered to the applicatorduring the teat drying mode; monitoring, via a control logic, one ormore parameters associated with cleaning the teats wherein theparameters comprise a parameter indicative of the number teats that areinserted into the housing volume during the teat washing mode and/or thenumber of teats inserted into the volume of the applicator housingduring the teat drying mode; generating data representing the number ofanimals whose teats have been cleaned in preparation for a milkingoperation based on one or more of the monitored teat cleaningparameters; and, storing in a database the data representing the numberof animals whose teats have been cleaned in preparation for a milkingoperation is stored.